Residents ready for new year

New Year’s resolutions and plans for New Year’s Eve seem to go hand in hand.

So many people make resolutions around the new year and most won’t stick to them, so what’s the point? Why do we do something that most likely sets us up for failure?

Kendra Sardinha, Staff writer

New Year’s resolutions and plans for New Year’s Eve seem to go hand in hand.
So many people make resolutions around the new year and most won’t stick to them, so what’s the point? Why do we do something that most likely sets us up for failure?
A survey, conducted through arts-careers.com., asked more than 100 participants what the main issues were that prevented them from reaching their New Year’s resolution goals and the results broke down into three major groups; procrastination, lack of discipline and lack of a game plan.
The survey also found that while most did want to accomplish more with their lives, they didn’t want to “go it alone.”
It also seems that plans for New Year’s Eve fluctuate just as much as resolutions do.
Peter Rezendez, 38, of Taunton and Tricia Comber, 36, of Bridgewater try to stick to their resolutions each year, but always have a hard time.
“Every year I say I’m going to quit smoking,” Comber said, “but it hasn’t happened yet. I say I’m going to organize too. That, at least usually gets done, but I’m not sure why I bother with the smoking thing.”
Comber contemplated a different approach this year.
“Maybe if I don’t resolve to do it, it’ll be less pressure and I’ll have success,” she said.
They’ll watch the ball drop at their friend’s house, where they go just about every year.
“It really wouldn’t be New Year’s Eve without going out,” Comber said.
Others simply don’t believe in resolutions, like the Driscolls, of Raynham.
“They’re silly,” said 48-year-old Mark.
“Why can’t people just make change a daily thing?” said 47-year-old Terry.
They’re not going out to celebrate on New Year’s Eve either.
“We used to when we were younger,” Mark said, “we used to go to a friend’s house but now, there’s no need and there are way too many drunks on the road, why risk it for one night?”
Tom Dusharme, 61, of East Bridgewater feels the same way.
“Why pick one day of the year?” Dusharme said. “Do you really need to make changes in your life on that specific day? — no. But that’s what most people do.”
Dusharme has never been one to go out and celebrate with a party. Instead, Dusharme will be going skiing.
“I stay pretty low-key,” he said. “I just don’t get into the crazy party scene like that. “I’d rather get away from that.”
To find where all this resolve began, you’ve got to go all the way back to 153 B.C. According to goalsguy.com Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances was put at the head of the calendar. Janus had two faces, therefore could look back on past events as well as into the future.
Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year. The tradition of New Year’s resolutions also dates back to the early Babylonians, where the most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment.
Twenty-year-old Megan Talleschi, of East Bridgewater, is also one of the many non-believers of resolutions.
“Why make one now, when people can make their minds up to do whatever they want at any time of the year,” Talleschi said.
Talleschi has had a few party offers, but she has yet to make up her mind. She’s gone to her share of parties in the past, but it’s been a tough year and a few years ago, she lost a friend to a drunk driving accident so she knows alcohol won’t be a part of her night.
“I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet, maybe I’ll just stay home, it’s not too big of a deal,” she said.
While the years have passed, and some things have changed, some of the most popular resolutions have not. Spending more time with family and friends, getting fit, quitting smoking, enjoying life more, getting organized and getting out of debt are still ranked among the highest.
Donald Traci, 39, and his wife Kim, 43, of Raynham, take an opposite approach. They write down New Year’s resolutions every year.
“We both try to do the losing weight thing and taking better care of ourselves,” Kim said, “and we try to spend more time with our families.”
The Tracis see making resolutions as a perfect way to begin a new year.
“Why not?” he said.
“For us, it’s part of the whole New Year’s holiday,” Kim said. “It’s a way to start the new year on a positive note.”
While some aren’t exactly phased by the holiday, there are others who consider it to be just as big as Christmas. The couple is going to spend time with good friends for the big night.
“We go out for dinner with a big crew of people,” Kim said. “About 20 of us get together and catch up on a year’s worth of news.”
“We go every year and this is a group we get to see only about once a year, so it’s special,” Donald said. “It wouldn’t be New Year’s Eve without it.”
While resolutions aren’t for everyone, there is help out there for those who might want to be real this time around. Arts-careers.com has some ideas on how to finally make your resolution happen.
If you have friends who have also made it their goal to improve their lives, build a support system so everyone can lean on each other. If you have a daily planning system for everything else, why not this too?
Identify the specific date and time to start tasks or whatever your goal may be and design a value system for yourself at the same time. The value system will be there to remind you of who you are and how you are choosing to live.
Celebrate every accomplishment. Don’t focus on where you may have slipped, but look at the positive steps you’ve taken.